February 12, 2010

Major Snowstorm Shuts Down Campus for Two Days; Cancels Classes for Three



Penn State Berks faculty and staff return to campus Friday, reminiscing about the recent snowstorm that canceled classes for three days in a row, and shut down non-vital operations for two and a half days.


As commuters ventured home early before the storm, vital personnel resorted to sleeping overnight at the campus to feed and care for the some 800+ students that remained (on campus). Staff put in long and hard hours, with the assistance of student employees to make sure that students had some kind of a quality meal to eat at Tulleys. By the end of the day Wednesday, the potato chip isle was nearly cleared and the beverages nearly gone.


There are mixed feelings about the snow- some are amazed that nearly two feet of snow dropped on the Reading area, some are excited to have a five day weekend. Students were observed sledding down the hills towards the Perkins Student Center, and a major snowball fight occurred near Laurel Hall at the soccer field. Some students were under the breezeway sledding like penguins; some were seen sledding in their laundry baskets.


Cleanup crews on Friday are still clearing parking lots on campus. Commuter students were not permitted to park in any lots on Wednesday and Thursday. There is one commonly held rule among college students: if you don't have to come in to class, don't go to campus. The campus is open Friday for normal operations, but students are staying home. There are a few; however that are sad about cancelations. "Since classes are canceled Friday, no one has a reason to come in" Robert Dean, a student said. "With no student population here, there really is no point to holding club activities".


Classes should resume Monday. With the storm fresh on their minds, students and local residents alike are now aware of the fury of Old Man Winter this year. February has begun; and so has the snow.

No comments: